Dickson City, Lackawanna County, PA -
Geisinger’s new $58 million, 61,000-square-foot facility, being constructed by Sordoni Construction Services, is scheduled to open on June 23, 2025.
Patients at the upcoming Geisinger Dickson City Cancer Center will experience the calming beauty of Northeast Pennsylvania’s mountains through glass walls in the infusion bays, creating a serene environment for those undergoing hours-long treatments.
“It’s a difficult journey for patients,” said Dr. Rajiv Panikkar, chair of Geisinger’s Cancer Institute. “We aim to make the experience as convenient, calm, and peaceful as possible while they confront the challenges of cancer and its treatment.”
The facility integrates nature with cutting-edge cancer care, offering patients a tranquil healing space while providing top-tier treatment comparable to major urban centers. Designed to soothe both mind and body, the facility aims to enhance the mental well-being of patients alongside their physical care.
Steve Hill, Geisinger’s senior project manager, emphasized the importance of natural light for both patients and doctors working long hours. "From a wellness standpoint, we're introducing natural light into the building for the physicians," Hill said.
With a projected 3.2% increase in cancer care needs through 2026 due to the growing 65+ population in Lackawanna County, Geisinger’s investment in the region is critical. Approximately 20% of the county’s cancer patients currently travel outside the area for treatment, a gap this new center aims to close.
The facility located on Martin F. Gibbons Boulevard, will complement Geisinger’s existing Frank M. and Dorothea Henry Cancer Center in Wilkes-Barre, offering localized, comprehensive care. The new center will bring radiation oncology services to Lackawanna County for the first time, along with expanded hematology, oncology, and palliative care services.
“This center allows us to bring the expertise of Geisinger’s radiation oncology staff to partner with medical oncology and provide comprehensive cancer care locally,” said Lisa Keifer, senior director of operations for Geisinger’s Cancer Institute. The latest technology in radiation oncology will be available, so patients can receive treatment close to home.
The new facility will offer 17 hematology and oncology exam rooms—nearly tripling the number currently available at Geisinger Community Medical Center (GCMC)—and 22 infusion bays, double what GCMC offers. Multi-disciplinary spaces will enhance care coordination for patients seeing multiple specialists.
The center will also provide courtyards, gardens, food and drink options, and spaces to support both patients and their families, reducing the need to travel between locations for treatment.
Sordoni Construction and Geisinger are on track to complete the project by June 2025, with Hill noting that the steel phase is complete and the exterior is being weatherproofed for winter. "We've been fortunate with great weather and a dedicated workforce,” Hill said.
In addition to serving patients, the cancer center will play a pivotal role in training the next generation of doctors. Geisinger’s Commonwealth School of Medicine in Scranton will supply future staff, supporting the medical school’s mission to reinforce the region’s physician workforce. A new palliative medicine fellowship program will also launch next summer.
“Our hope is to inspire young doctors to stay and continue caring for the community,” Panikkar said. “The vision of delivering complex care, coordinated well, in a community setting is one of our overarching goals.”
